SPACECOAST RUNNERS
HALL OF FAME
1. Hall of Fame Guidelines
|
· The SCR Hall of Fame is intended to recognize Space Coast Runners accomplishments as runners and/or their contributions to the Space Coast Runners Club · The SCR Board of Directors will select a nomination committee in January · The nomination committee will be comprised of SCR members but not necessarily SCR Board members · Nomination Committee members will be selected annually · Attempts will be made to include at least two former inductees of the Hall of Fame to the Nomination Committee · Five Nomination Committee members will be selected by the SCR Board · Nomination Committee members are not eligible to be selected as inductees during the year they are on the committee · The Nomination Committee will select up to five inductees per year · The Nomination Committee will report their selection to the SCR Board by April 30 · Nominations may be made by any active member of the Space Coast Runners Club. This includes the Nomination Committee members themselves · Nominations must be submitted to the SCR Board by January 31 for consideration for that year · Nominations must me written and signed by the SCR member making the nomination. Email is acceptable if the nominator email address is known by the SCR · The nomination must include justification on why the candidate is being submitted. The justification should be of sufficient detail to allow the Selection Committee to make an objective decision. · The justification submitted will also be used in the award ceremony announcing the inductees · The justification should include the candidates name, the number of years he/she has been a member of the SCR, the year- in which the candidate is being recognized for, and his/her accomplishments · The Hall of Fame Honorees will be announced at the SCR annual awards ceremony · The inductees picture and nomination write up will be included in the SCR Hall of Fame Book |
2. Douglas Butler 2001
Figure 1 Chain of Lakes 5K -- 2006
2.1 Abridged Version
Doug
Butler: Never Slows Down
"....Doug began running competitively
in 1986. He is a two-time NJCAA All-American in the marathon, finishing second
in the nation in 1991. His marathon PR is 2:25:58 which he ran in 1995. He has
been the Overall Male Track Shack Grand Prix champion five times as well as the
SCR ROY Male champion a total of eight times. His PRs include a 5k in 14:52, a
10k of 30:54 and a 15k of 47:52. He finished the Walt Disney World Marathon in
6th place overall with a time of 2:38:00.
Doug has directed multiple races including
the "Mardi Gras 5k" from 1995 through 1998. It fast became the
largest running race in
Submitted by Marty Winkel
2.2 Nomination Letter
Not Available
3. Henry Campbell 2001
Figure 2 Rosie & Henry Campbell
Figure 3: Marty Winkel presents Golden Shoe Award to Henry Campbell - 1996
3.1 Abridged Version
Henry
Campbell; Always A Champion of the Sport
"....Henry has been racing since 1979
and has run more than 580 races. He began attending SCR meetings to learn about
running and ended up running the club. He was President for 2 terms, and in
those years the newsletter went from a single sheet to 16 pages published at no
cost; the SCR joined the RRCA; the membership grew from 70 to 400+; scoring
boards were perfected, and results started being sent to and printed in the
newspaper. Henry's score boards are well known to most local runners. When it
seems to take forever to get the awards, lots of runners will ask "why
aren't they using Henry's boards? We could have eaten breakfast by now."
Henry did not have an allegiance to the
club, his allegiance was to the runners and the sport and used the club as a
means to contribute to the cause. Once he had a phone call hours before an
early evening race telling him that the race was not going to have a water
station or traffic control Henry showed up with the race equipment but wouldn't
unload it until he got a promise that those items would be correct. He used to
get in arguments about the cost of races and flag those in the newsletter which
he thought were too high....."
Submitted by Marty Winkel
3.2 Nomination Letter
From: Henry Campbell <HCampbell@prodigy.net>
To: Marty Winkle <runsalot@earthlink.net>
Date: Friday: March 9, 2001 1:59 PM
Subject: Rosie about Henry
Henry & I joined the club Aug. 1979.
Jan 13 1979 on a sunny afternoon our oldest daughter asked her dad to run around the block with her. With about 100 yards to go she started running fast. Henry, a well established 190+lb. couch potato, had turned 45 only 10 days, tried to keep up with her. He didn't stop in the yard like she did he ran into the house. We went in to see if he was OK. He was lying on the floor gasping for breath, trying to talk while feebly waving goodbye to us. When he recovered he said he did not want the neighbors seeing him dying in the front yard. Thus was the beginning of his running career.
After running for 5 months he got the nerve to run in the daylight, he was down to 163 Ib. and I convinced him to sign-up for the Pineapple 10K. When we got there he saw runners stretching and warming up and decided to go home since he could never do that. He was hiding behind a telephone pole at the start when the gun went off and I gave him a shove. That was his first race, last week he ran his 580th race. I've gone with him to all but 3 races.
He attended the Space Coast Runners meetings so he could learn more about running. One night he sat too close to the front and ended up the nominating committee for new officers. Henry spent the next couple of weeks on the phone calling every member of the club to get officers. He managed to get all the positions filled except President. So he volunteered.
His
real test as President came at the Merritt Island Mall 5Km, It will go down as
the Space Coast Runners all time disaster race. The course markings were typing
paper stapled to telephone poles that most runners never saw, the length was
something over 8 mi., the water stop ran out of cups and water. The fact that
it started 11:00 AM on one of the hottest days of the year added to the
problems. There were people lying in the streets, thank heaven for the
ambulances. The write up in the Orlando Sentinel was brutal. They advised
runners to stay away from anything associated with the Space Coast Runners.
Henry wrote to the Sentinel and said it was proper to blame the race director,
or him, but not the members of the Space Coast Runners. Henry gave his word
that the
Henry had all the club's equipment stacked in our garage. He would load it all in the early hours of the morning. It didn't fit in the garage loaded. As President and keeper of the equipment it was a job that he loved as this was his way of giving back to the sport. I personally got tired of squeezing my way around all the club's equipment. It took several years before I got him to let someone else take it.
Henry did not have an allegiance to the club as such even when he was President; his allegiance was to the runners and the sport. He used the club as a means to contribute to that cause. Some Race Directors didn't understand why he wasn't enthusiastic about their cause, he said his purpose was to make the event enjoyable to the runners. There were times when I disagreed with his tactics. Once he had a phone call hours before an early evening race telling him that the race was not going to have a water station or traffic control. Henry showed up with all the equipment but wouldn't unload it until he got a promised that these items were corrected. Henry's contention was what good is power if you don't use it, thus he refused to lend the clubs equipment to races that didn't have the 5 year age groups. He used to get in arguments about the cost of races and flag those that he thought were too high in the newsletter. He believed that the running club was not a business to make money but was a service to help it's members save money. I think he was the only incumbent president to loose a bid for reelection.
Henry was President for 2 terms, and in those years, the SCR newsletter went from a single sheet to a 16 pages published at no cost, SCR joined the Road Runners of America, SCR got big enough to get bulk mailing (from 70 to 400+), perfected the scoring boards, changed the race calendar from local events to all of Florida events, put results of all local and some out of county races in the newsletter and sending that newsletter to all participants in those races, Continuing the Space Coast Ultra-marathon, (directed it 6 times). Throughout the years he has done the race calendar, the mailing labels, the mailing, the membership, measured and certified race course, race director, equipment storage, maintenance and procurer of materials of races, and many other things too numerous to count.
Henry's score boards are well known to most local runners. When it "seems to take forever" to get the awards, lots of runners will ask "why aren't they using Henry's boards? We could have eaten breakfast by now." Some people have even suggested that he get the system patented. Actually he has made three of these systems. Each took a couple of months to make. He spends an hour or two the night before a race getting the age groups in place and making the finish cards. We don't usually go out on Fridays. Wonder why? He claims it is so we can get the results and leave early enough to get breakfast. Then why is it we are almost always the last people to leave?
I expect Henry will keep giving back to the sport for some time to come because like many of his peers he thinks it's the right thing to do.
Submitted by Rosie
Campbell
4. Bill Dillard - 2001
Figure 4: Bill Dillard
4.1 Abridged Version
BILL
DILLARD; Always a Runner and Gentleman
"...Bill started running in grammar
school-relay races for PE and Boy Scouts. He was on the track team in the 7th
grade. In his senior year in High School, Bill was elected captain of the
Charleston HS track team. He ran a record mile of 4:38 and an 800 of 2:00 flat.
Bill joined the Air Force in 1942, continuing to run. In 1962, he was advised
that he was being sent to
Submitted by John Chioma
4.2 Nomination Letter
From: Normasue <Normasue@email.msn.com>
To: Marty Winkel <runsalot@earthlink.net>
Cc: <Kwinn@cfl.rr.com>, <Farrall@earthlink.com>, Patti <baboou@digital.net>
Date: Tuesday , March 20,200111:37 AM
Subject: SCR HALL OF FAME
BILL DILLARD, NOMINATION FOR THE SPACE COAST RUNNERS HALL OF FAME.
Bill started running in grammar school - relay races for PE and Boy Scouts. He was on the track team in the 7th grade. He was a sprinter in the hundred yard dash in ten flat a few times. He did the mile in less than five minutes and the half in about 2:10.
In his senior year Bill was elected captain of the Charleston High School (SC) track team with a record of 4:38 in the mile and a 2 flat in the half. He was on the swim team and swam the hundred yard breast stroke in 1:10.
He
won the Golden Gloves novice championship as a fly-weight in 1941. In 1942 he
won an area and regional open championship and was invited to go to
Bill
joined the Army Air Force in December 1942 as a private. He ran and did amateur
boxing. He entered the flying program and running was part of the training. In
1962 he was advised he would be sent to
In
1991 at 67 he did the
Bill has been the race director for the Space Coast Marathon and Half Marathon for several years. He has measured and re-measured the course several times as traffic has increased and changes to the original course were required.
He has been Fun Run Director for the Palm Bay Fun Run for many years.
Bill is the person
who measures and certifies race courses in
He is a member of the board of directors of the Space Coast Runners and attends most meetings in addition to his duties around the world as a dog-show judge.
I hereby nominate Bill Dillard to the Space Coast Runners Hall of Fame.
Submitted by John Chioma,
Vice-President, Space Coast runners Inc.
5. Don Dore, Sr. 2001
Figure 5 Don Dore
5.1 Abridged Version
DON DORE SR.; Never Gives Up
"...Don
became a member of SCR in January 1982. In 1989, he and Gary Castner took on
the task of compiling the
As a runner, Don
won the 55-59 AG in the
Submitted
by Dave Farrall
5.2 Nomination Letter
Donald Dore, Sr.
I am nominating Donald Dore, Sr. to the Space Coast Runners Hall of Fame.
This 71-year-old has been running
since 1978. In February 1978, he took a run on
Don became a member of Space Coast Runners in January 1982. Don and Gary Castner took on the task of keeping the statistics for Runner of the Year in 1989. In addition, Don has been a longstanding board member and has led the Melbourne Beach Fun Run since 1993.
As a runner, Don won the 55-59
age group in the Runner of the Year series three years in a row. Of note was
the 1985 R.O.Y. series that consisted of ten races. Don scored 10 points in
each race for a total of 100 points. He won every race against all comers in
his age group including the Space Coast Marathon--a perfect score! He has run
15 marathons, two of which have been at
Don has been a great inspiration to other runners. He has coached several and has encouraged many. There is a story about a new runner at his first 5K race who completed the run because Don Dore and Henry Campbell held his hands during the race and across the finish line--the runner--Matt Mahoney (they created a monster). Don is not only a runner, but is known to be perseverant, responsible and is not easily rattled. He is also a great family man, a good friend and a person with a strong faith in God. Don Dore is an asset to the running community.
Submitted by Dave Farrall
6. Terry Hayden 2002
Figure 6 Terry and Cross Country Team -- 2006
6.1 Abridged Version
TERRY HAYDEN: Always A Leader
... Terry has
been one of the
Terry has been an
active member of the Space Coast Runners since 1988, serving as the club
treasurer for 7 of those years. He has
volunteered at numerous
Terry is the
current girls Cross Country and Track Coach at
Submitted by Doug Butler
6.2 Nomination Letter
This letter is written to seek the induction of Terry Hayden into the Space Coast Runners Hall of Fame. Terry has been an active member of the Space Coast Runners for the past 14 years. He served as the club treasurer for 7 of those Years.
Terry also has been the race
director, or assisted the race director, of the
Terry has won the overall Masters
title of the Track Shack Grand Prix Series in
Terry has volunteered at numerous
Submitted by Doug Butler
7. Jack Kenworthy 2001
Figure 7 Jack Kenworthy - 1999
7.1 Abridged Version
JACK KENWORTHY; Original Member Who
Continues to Give
"...His love
of running gave him the idea to start a jogging class. He developed the
curriculum and persuaded BCC to implement the course. He was the first
instructor and his training and encouragement gave this author her first taste
of the endorphins and freedom which only running can provide. Also during this
time, Jack, together with his friends, developed a loose knit running club
called the "Space Coast Runners". Jack encouraged the "joggers"
in his classes to join. He remembers an unusual character showing up for his
jogging class in the late seventies raring to run in army boots. This feisty,
older student's name was Harold Tucker. In addition to persuading Harold to join
SCR, Jack also showed him the advantages of trading in the boots for the
running shoes of that time.
He still is
encouraging others to run. He has been the
Submitted
by Patti Sponsler-Sher
7.2 Nomination Letter
NOMINATION FOR SPACE COAST RUNNERS' HALL OF FAME
CANDIDATE'S NAME: Jack Kenworthy
NUMBER OF YEARS WITH SCR: For the life of the club- one of the original members
Getting Jack Kenworthy to talk about his running involvement and accomplishments is like trying to pull the front teeth out of an alert, hungry alligator. He is a very modest man. He is also one of the original members of the Space Coast Runners.
Back in the sixties, Jack played
baseball as a student at the
When he graduated from college,
Jack was offered a position at
Also during this time, Jack, together with his friends Tom Pifer, Bob Lawton and Dave St. John, developed a loose knit running club called the "Space Coast Runners". Jack encouraged the "joggers" in his classes to join. Jack remembers an unusual character showing up for his jogging class in the late seventies raring to run in army boots. This feisty, older student's name was Harold Tucker. In addition to persuading Harold to join SCR, Jack also showed him the advantages of trading in the boots for the running shoes of that time.
In 1976, Jack ran his first marathon, A SCR event, at that time named "The Melbourne Marathon". He became its director the next year and continued through 1981. Jack did whatever needed doing for the club, whether it was holding an office no one else would take (sometimes multiple), handing out water or persuading council members that a SCR race would not tie up traffic. Even today, when Jack sees something that needs doing, he just does it. This was evidenced at the Nov. 2000 SCR marathon when the water stop at mile five ran out of cups and water. This stop was almost in front of Jack's home and he offered and provided the stop with water, cups and Gatorade from his own Team-in-Training supplies until Ken could get back. He was embarrassed when I thanked him for his contribution and refused any repayment.
Although Jack retired from BCC as
Department Chairman in 1996, he still is encouraging others to run. He has been
the
Jack has "taught" and
encouraged hundreds of
It is with pride and gratitude that I submit him as a candidate for the SCR 2001 Hall of Fame.
Submitted by Patti Sponsler
8. Bob Lawton 2001
Figure 8 -- Completing
8.1 Abridged Version
BOB LAWTON; Original founder of Space Coast
Runners
"...
The 1st meeting
of Space Coast Runners was held at the Cocoa Beach Library with 7 initial
charter members. They made a decision to hold fun runs on the beach twice a
month. There were three races of one, three, and five mile distances. Bob, who
had recently retired from the Air Force, had just started running to lose
weight and get back into his previous good "military shape". He
laughingly stated that he did not get to run in many of these races as he was
so busy directing, registering, compiling results, and organizing the next
race...."
Submitted
by Mary Ramba
8.2 Nomination Letter
NOMINATION
ROBERT E. LAWTON TO SPACE COAST RUNNER'S HALL OF FAME
What is Space Coast Runners to you?
It was a lovely, balmy Friday
morning in
The 1st meeting of Space Coast Runners was held at the Cocoa Beach Library with 7 initial charter members. They made a decision to hold fun runs on the beach twice a month. There were three races, one, three, and five mile distances. Bob, who had recently retired from the Air Force, had just started running to lose weight and get back into his previous good "military shape". Bob laughingly stated that he did not get to run in many of these races as he was so busy directing, registering, compiling results, and organizing the next race.
Bob and his wife developed a
calendar, which included a local
Bob designed the first Space
Coast Runner's logo on a paper napkin in a local pub after one of the races. He
had a jeweler make a lovely gold pendent, which he has always worn with a great
deal of pride. Bob started training to run marathons and qualified to run the
Boston Marathon at the Lafayette Race Festival. Bob ran
Bob gives the credit for his running success, and his very successful life in general, to his Grandmother. She told him a story about Toodles and her friends (a group of kittens and puppies). Toodles wanted a jump rope and had to earn the money for her jump rope by doing chores for pennies. Bob's motto is, "Perseverance Wins!" Bob's love for running, his encouragement of others to participate, and joy in life brought Space Coast Runners a beginning for which we can and should be truly thankful.
9. Rebecca Sparks 2001
Figure 9 - Rebecca Sparks
9.1 Abridged Version
Rebecca Sparks: Passion for All Things
Running
"...Rebecca
began running in high school and set four, still unbroken,
Rebecca has been
a SCR Board member since 1991. She was Race Director for the "Downtown
Melbourne 5k" for two years as well as the creator and Race Director for
the Cocoa Beach Thanksgiving "Turkey Trot 5k". She created and
continues to direct the "Peak When it Counts" running camp which, in
conjunction with SCR, was Brevard's first public enterprise to promote running
fitness and enjoyment. Additionally, Rebecca opened Brevard's first and only
exclusive running specialty store "Up & Running on the East Coast,
inc." Finally, Rebecca has created and will be sponsoring the "Summer
Races Series, 2001", Brevard's only summer running series..."
Submitted
by Patti Sponsler-Sher
9.2 Nomination Letter
NOMINATION FOR SPACE
COAST RUNNERS' HALL OF FAME
CANDIDATE'S NAME: Rebecca Sparks
NUMBER OF YEARS WITH SCR: 1991 Present
ATHLETIC RUNNING
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1982-1985:
1985-1989:
Presently holds six college records
1989-1993: World-Wide Air Force National Champion, 6 time medalist
Female Athlete of the Year, Patrick Air Force Base (1992)
1994-Present: 5-time SCR Female Runner of the Year
5-time Track Shack Grand Prix OA Female
Gator
Relays 1500m Champion,
Duke Relays -fifth place finish
27
PRs: 10,000m - 36:34
5,000m - 17:29
Mile - 4:36
1,500m - 4:22
800m - 2:04
COMMUNITY RUNNING
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1991-Present:
Member of Board of Directors of
1994-1995: Race Director of the "Downtown Melbourne 5k" to benefit The Haven, a home for abused and neglected children.
1998: Created and continues to direct the "Peak When it Counts Camp", Brevard's first established public enterprise to promote running fitness and enjoyment in the community.
9/2000: Opened Brevard's first and only exclusive running specialty store, UP & Running on the East Coast, Inc. The store collected new toys for needy children at Christmas.
11/2000:
Created and directed the first
annual Thanksgiving "Turkey Trot 5k". Partial proceeds donated to the
Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless at
Continual: Rebecca generously donates her time, talents and material goods to help those who are in need. Until you get to know her, you don't realize how much of her "wealth" she gives away willingly. She is a most unselfish humanitarian in addition to her athletic prowess.
10. Harold Tucker 2001
Figure 10: Harold & Rose Tucker Figure 11: Harold Tucker
10.1 Abridged Version
HAROLD TUCKER; Gone But NEVER Forgotten
"...Being in
his eighties never hindered his appreciation for the wonders of nature. I'm
sure that is one of the reasons he took over as coach of the girls' cross
country team at
In the early days
of the club (1979) Harold gathered race results. As a matter of fact there were
very few things that Harold didn't do for the club as the years went by
including being President, VP, Fun Run Director, Equipment Mgr., Marathon Race
Director, Ultra Marathon Race Director,
Submitted
by Henry Campbell
10.2 Nomination Letter
From: Henry Campbell <HCampbell@prodigy.net>
Organization: Prodigy Internet
To: Marty Winkle <runsalot@earthlink.net>
Date.: Friday, March 9, 2001 10:37 AM
Subject: Harold Tucker
Harold Tucker: joined the club
prior to July 1979. Being in his eighties never hindered his appreciation for
the wonders of nature. I'm sure that was one of the reasons he took over as
coach of the girls cross country team at
In the early days of the club when there were less then 80 members (1979) Harold gathered race results of club members for the news letters. As a matter of fact, there were very few things Harold didn't do for the club as the years went by, these included being President, Vice President, Director, Fun Run Director, Equipment Mgr., Marathon Race Director, Ultra Marathon Race Director, Bargain Beach Race Director, Race results reporter, and the list goes on. If something needed done Harold, would do it or get it done. Harold was singularly responsible for acquiring the clubs finish clock and for getting the HAM radio support for the club's longer races.
Oh yeah, Harold also ran. His training for a marathon when he was in his late sixties consisted of a 23+ mile run every two to three days. It really showed up on the Ultra Marathon 50Km run on the beach as he put a lot of younger people away (including me). He always ran the race barefooted in the sand. When I directed this race, I warned the participants that Harold my have been using his famous handlebar mustache as a aerodynamic device and they should contact the race director if at anytime during the race his feet were not touching the beach.
Running was just one of Harold's
many adventures. He once told me that he owned an airplane when he was young
and did a lot of barn storming. The problem was that all these small airports
were well outside of the towns, and after landing it was a long walk to find
something to eat. Once someone lent him their motorcycle to go to town to eat.
Harold sold his airplane and bought a motorcycle. He went everywhere by
motorcycle. Harold was also a sailboat enthusiast, He was primarily responsible
for getting the high rise bridges and channel markers on the
Harold was a very talented
individual. Quite often I would ask him to help me out be it measuring a race
course, welding a broken bracket, working on a car, you name it-he was there.
Harold and I did not agree on a lot of things (like politics ), but we always
agreed that we could work together-and we did. Of all the people I have known I
will miss Harold the most. I run past his house (which he built himself) and
think he has just gone to another motorcycle rally in
Submitted by Henry Campbell
11. Marty Winkel 2004
Figure 12 - Marty Winkel - 2006
11.1 Abridged Version
MARTY WINKEL: A Running Inspiration
Marty has been an
avid runner for many years, currently sustaining a streak of over 10 years
without missing a single day of running.
He has almost completed his goal to run a marathon in every state.
Marty has been a
real champion for running in
Submitted by Committee
11.2 Nomination Letter
Not Available
12. Tom Hoffman 2007
Figure 13 - Tom Hoffman - 2007
12.1 Abridged Version
Tom became
involved with the Space Coast Runners Club in 1982, serving on the Board of Directors
from 1983 1994. He also held additional offices, including President, Space
Coast Marathon Race Director, and Newsletter Editor.
Toms running
accomplishments include 5th overall in the 1978 Houston Marathon (2:25), and
sub 31 minute 10Ks. Tom won the Master
SCROY Series in 1993-94, and was the Masters winner for the Clermont Triathlon
sprint series in 1993. Other highlights
include winning the Pineapple 10K overall in 1989 and the masters division at the
Pineapple 10K in 1996 in 36:38 at age 44.
Submitted by Marty Winkel
12.2 Nomination Letter
Space Coast Runners Hall of Fame Nomination - Tom Hoffman
Tom started running in high school and when a senior he ran the Boston Marathon, finishing 112th overall with a time of 2:37. That was the first year that the Boston Marathon had over 1,000 entrants, an unheard of number for a road race in those days. As a collage student, attending Duke, Tom competed on the cross-country and track teams. He ran a sub 9 minute indoor 2 miler in his junior year. Tom continued to train and race while in medical school and residency. While doing his residency in 1978, living in Houston, Tom finished 5th overall in the Houston Marathon with a PR of 2:25. Tom was also running sub 31 minutes the 10K and ran a 1:39 in the 30K.
Tom and Mary (who he met and married while living in
1984 found Tom as the race director for the Space Coast Marathon. This was the year that Budweiser was the main sponsor which created a slight problem because the race was held at BCC and alcohol is not allowed on campus. Tom also served on the Board of Directors from 1983 through 1994. He was involved with the club's initial purchase of an overhead clock and for several years, Tom's garage served as the SCR storage. Tom was voted in as the SCR President for the 1989-90 season. It was under Tom's Presidency that SCR purchased our first finish line printer timer, finish line chute equipment and moved all the equipment to an commercial storage unit. This was also the time when SCR started renting the finish line system and equipment to other organizations wanting to put on races locally as well as providing our expertise. This helped improve the quality of the races as well as raising some needed funds. Following Tom's term as president he assumed the responsibilities as the Newsletter editor. From approximately 1990 through 2000 Tom made his office available for the monthly SCR board meetings.
While researching Tom's SCR involvement, I did find out that
contrary to the web site acknowledging Harold Tucker as being "singularly
responsible" for the purchase of the overhead digital clock, that the
Board had some lively debates about the purchase. Harold, rest his soul, didn't like to spend
money to say the least and Tom even offered to put up some money himself. Harold eventually came around when the board
figured out how to use the clock to make money for the club. This note is not
meant to show any disrespect to Harold.
Every one that knew Harold knew about his passion to not spend money,
e,g, the
Tom won the Master SCROY Series in 1993-94, and also was the Masters winner for the Clermont Triathlon sprint series in 1993. Just a few other of Toms running highlights include him winning the Pineapple 10K overall in 1989, winning the masters division in both the Pineapple 10K and the Triathlon in 1993 or 1994. Tom won the masters division at the Pineapple 10K in 1996 in 36:38 at age 44, not too bad.
Tom stopped running at the end of the 1998 season because of a foot problem. He had surgery to repair some tendons in his ankle in 2001 and has been able to run sporadically and strictly for the enjoyment and health aspects with little interest in competition. In a recent conversation with Tom, he stated that he thinks if there were better sports medicine, shoes and orthotics when he was younger he would have been a lot better off; 100 mile weeks take their toll. At his last college reunion Tom learned that only one other former teammate was able to run at all.
It is with all due respect that I nominate and request the SCR Board to install Tom Hoffman to the Space Coast Runners Hall of Fame.
Submitted:
Marty Winkel
13. Mary Ramba 2008
13.1 Nomination Letter
Mary Ramba An Ambassador of Running
Mary Ramba lives today because she runs. Nearly twelve years
ago she was in a downward spiral of eating and drinking, which was affecting
her health and emotional well being. She had ballooned to nearly twice her
current size and knew that she could not continue along that path. She began
running. She has not looked back. The only part of that 1997 Mary Ramba that we
would recognize would be her drive. Having made her decision to adopt this new
lifestyle, it was Marys drive that insured the conversion. It is no surprise
that Mary mostly skipped the intermediary stage of walk before run. That first
year she didnt run in races, she just ran longer and longer. In November of
1998, having shed more than 70 pounds she completed her first marathon.
Not long after her first marathon, Mary became involved with Space Coast Runners. She was elected to the Board of Directors in June of 2000 and has served continuously since. A constant contributor, Mary co-edited the newsletter with Patti Sponsler from December 2000 to June 2001, when she was elected vice-president. She served as vice-president until May, 2003 and again from August 2004 to June 2006. During the latter term she also assumed the role of chairman of the board of directors of Space Coast Runners. An even more visible role to the rank and file runner was day of race duty. Along with husband Gene, she has lugged equipment to, timed, and scored countless races over the past eight years.
Mary has been there for all runners with a cheery greeting,
helpful advice, and a willingness to contribute for the good of the running
community. For the past seven years she also has found time to co-direct the
Downtown Melbourne 5K, which benefits The Haven, her favorite charity. She
stepped in and coached the cross-country teams at
Running with Mary along south Tropical Trail on a Sunday
morning or
Submitted by Frank Webbe